Circuit-closer.



\ 1. w. STUTTS. CIRCUIT CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-24,1916.

1,221,486. Patented Apr. 3,1917.

wane/00% JESSE W. STUTTS, OF FLORENCE, ALABAMA.

CIRCUIT-CLOSER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

Application filed February 24, 1916. Serial No. 80,117.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JESSE IV. S'rU'r'rs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Florence, in the county of Lauderdale and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuit- Closers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is a circuit closer operated by athermostat to complete an electric circuit to give warning or perform work when the temperature in the room in which it is placed rises above a predetermined degree.

The object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed and inexpensive device of this class which regardless of these characteristics, will be highly eflicient'and durable.

With this general object in View, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and in unique combinations of parts to be hereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawing which constitutes a part of this application I and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention showing its application for controlling a temperature in a flue and for operating a temperature indicator;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the device in its normal inactive position; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the relation of parts when the thermostat is expanded under an increase in temperature; Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on the plane indicated by the line 4-i of Fig. 2;'and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of details to be described.

In specifically describing the construction shown in the drawing above briefly described, similar characters will be placed on corresponding parts throughout the several views and reference will be herein made to insulating disks 5 on its ends, said disks contacting with the inner and outer sides of the aforesaid arm 2 as clearly shown in the drawing. Extending from the arm 2 toward the arm 2 is a short rod 6 having at one end a threaded attaching shank 7 passed through the disks 5 and block 4 and secured to these parts by a nut 8. The opposite end of the rod 6 is hinged at 9 to one end of a second short rod 10, the other end of this rod having therein a threaded socket 11.

The socket 11 receives a threaded stud 12 carried at the center of one section 13 of a thermostat 14, said thermostat including any number, of said sections 13, each of which is provided with one of the studs 12 at one end, while at their opposite ends the sections 13 are equipped with threaded sockets 15. This arrangement allows any number of sections to be coupled together by their studs and sockets as shown in Fig. 2 and permits of the endmost of said sections being attached to the rod and to a second rod 16 having a threaded stud 17 which is received in one of the sockets 15.

The rod 16 passes through an opening 18 in the upper end of the arm 2 and is adapted for contact with the wall of said opening, such contact being normally prevented, however, by a sleeve 19 of insulating material which passes slidably through the opening 18 and is threaded for adjustment on the rod 16.

One wire 20 of an electric circuit from a battery or the like 21 is grounded to the bracket 1 while the other wire of said circuit indicated at 22 is secured in electrical contact with the rod 6. Thus, under normal conditions, the circuit will be broken, but when the thermostat 11 expands under a rising temperature, the sleeve 19 will be forced from the opening 18 as shown in Fig. 3, thus allowing the rod 16 to drop into contact with the wall of the opening 18. This completes the circuit which may be made to perform any work desired, and due to the fact that the inner end of the sleeve 19 catches on the arm 2, the circuit will remain closed until released by hand. In Fig. 1, an electric gong 23 is shown which will be sounded when the circuit is completed.

In some cases, a metal sleeve 21 will be secured to the outer end of the sleeve 19 preferably by means of the metal cap 25, said sleeve 24 carrying a pair of projecting pins 26 having sliding connections with a pair of lovers 2]". These levers will be obviously .moved when the thermostat expands, and this movement may be applied to use in any desired manner. F or instance, in Fig. 1, one of the levers 27 coacts with a temperature scale 28, while the other is connected with a damper 29 in a flue 30 leading from a heater not shown. Thus, the damper 29 may be controlled automatically by the thermostat 14 and the temperature of the atmosphere around the device may be readily ascertained by the relation of one of the levers 27 with the scale 28. It is to be understood that the thermostat may be made to perform other work in other ways, the levers 27 being merely shown for illustrative purposes.

By constructing the complete device in the manner shown and described, it may be easily and inexpensively manufactured and marketed, yet when used will be highly efficient and durable. Its automatic action renders it particularly adapted for use in completing the circuit of a fire alarm, but as will be readily understood, its use need not be limited.

In the foregoing, certain specific details of construction have been shown and described for accomplishing probably the best results and in the accompanying drawing such details have been shown. It is to be understood, however, that numerous changes may be made within the scope of the invention as claimed without sacrificing the'main advantages thereof.

1 claim:

1. In a thermostatically controlled circuit closer, an upstanding contact plate having an opening, a horizontal contact rod passing through said opening for engagement with the wall thereof, an insulating sleeve surrounding a part of said rod and slidable in said opening, and a thermostat for sliding said sleeve from the opening to allow the aforesaid rod to contact with the wall of said opening.

2. ln a thermostatically controlled circuit closer, a metallic support, a metal contact member above the same for engagement therewith, an insulating member secured to said metallic contact member and bearing normally on said support to-hold the contact member in spaced relation thereto, and a thermostat connected with said contact member for shifting it to move the insulating member to allow said contact member to engage the support.

3. In a thermostatically controlled circuit closer, an upright contact plate having an opening, a horizontal contact rod for engagement with the wall of said opening, an insulating sleeve surrounding and secured to a part of said rod and slidable freely in said opening, and a thermostat connected with said rod for shifting the latter to move the insulating sleeve from the opening to allow said rod to contact with the wall of said opening.

4. In a thermostatically controlled circuit closer, a U-shaped metallic bracket, a thermostat between the arms of said bracket and secured at one end to one of said arms, the other arm of said bracket having an opening, acontact rod extending from the other end of the thermostat for engagement with the wall of said opening, and an insulating sleeve surrounding said rod and slidable freely within said opening, said sleeve being adapted to be moved from the opening by expansion of the thermostat to allow the aforesaid rod to engage the wall of the opening.

5. In a thermostatically controlled circuit closer, a metallic support, a contact member to engage the same, said contact member having an insulated portion normally resting on said support, and a thermostat for shifting said contact member to move its uninsulated portion into engagement with the support, said contact member and support having coacting shoulders to interengage and lock said contact member and support in engagement when the former is shifted by the thermostat.

6. In a thermostatically controlled circuit closer, a U-shaped metallic bracket, a thermostat between the arms of said bracket and secured at one end to one of the arms thereof, the other arm of said bracket having an opening, a contact rod extending from the other end of the thermostat for engagement with the wall of the opening, and an insulating sleeve surrounding said rod and projecting beyond the same to form a shoulder, said sleeve being slidable freely within the aforesaid opening, whereby expansion of the thermostat may move said sleeve from the opening to allow the contact rod to engage the wall thereof, and whereby the aforesaid shoulder will engage said wall of the opening to prevent return of the parts to normal position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JESSE W. STUTTS.

Witnesses: I

J. A. GRIESBAUER, L. (l. Hnrron. 

